Apparatus for preparing statistical records



July 1, 1941'. J. w. BRYcE APPARATUS FOR PREPARING STATISTICAL RECORDSFiled July 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Shawl 1 NmzON,

m mzON INVENTOR ATi'oRNEY July 1, 1941. .1. w. BRYCE APPARATUS FORPREPARING STATISTICAL RECORDS Filed July 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTDRNEY July A1, 1941. 1 W, BRYCE 2,247,905

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING STATISTICAL RECORDS Filed July 25, 1939 ssheets-sheet :s

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Patented July 1, 1941 APPARATUS FOR PREPARING STATISTICAL RECORDS JamesW. Bryce, Glen Ridge, N. J., assignor to International Business MachinesCorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation o! New York Application July25, 1939, Serial No. 286,441

Claims.

'I'he present invention pertains broadly to statistical systems andrelates more particularly to apparatus'for preparing records which aresuitably adapted for controlling the operations of statistical machines.

It is now suggested to provide the control records with magneticimpressions or recordings for representing the statistical data, whichrecordings are formed by subjecting the records to magnetic iields ofvarying intensities. Due to the characteristics of the records, whichare formed from suitable magnetizable materials, the magnetic impremionsformed thereon can be retained for any desired period and utilized forcontrolling the operations of suitable statistical machines.

In the present application provision is made for forming the recordingsmagnetically on the records by subjecting them to magnetic fields, thelines of force of which are varied at different frequency rates so thatthe impressions retained thereon are formed in different frequencyranges for representing the different data. The magnetic impressions aresimilarly positioned on the records with respect to each other so thatdifferentiatlons of the data designations is not made (as is customaryin the Hollerith system) 'by the disposition thereof at differentrelative positions on the record. The novel record just referred to isclaimed in a co-pending application Serial No. 286,440, filed July 25,1939.

In order to illustrate and describe the instant invention briefly,provision is made whereby recordings of the impressions in differentfrequencies are made to represent the different data values. Forexample, a magnetic recording in a frequency of the order of fP' mayrepresent the numerical data one, a recording in frequency "f2 mayrepresent the number two, etc. It is to -be understood that the controlrecords when thus conditioned are adapted to be presented subsequentlyto suitable machines for converting the magnetic recordings intoelectrical impulses or oscillations of different frequenciescorresponding to the frequencies of the recordings for effecting thedesired statistical operations in accordance with the magnetic dataindications. A disclosure is not made in the instant case of machinesadapted to utilize the records referred to, this subject matter isdescribed and claimed in a co-pending application Serial No. 286,443,led July 25, 1939.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention resides in the provisionof magnetic recording means for forming on magnetizable recordsrecordings of different frequencies for representing statistical data.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision ofmeans for forming the recordings in different frequencies to representthe dilerent values of the statistical data.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision ofmeans for forming the different magnetic recordings in similar positionson the records. In this manner it is obvious, that differentiation ofthe data values of the magnetic impressions is not made .by thediierential positions of the data representations on the records. as iscustomary in the present statistical systems.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated. of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial view of a fragmentary section of a control record.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the driving clutch.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view through the keyboard section of themachine.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View of the keyboard showing the motor barand associated elements.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram showing the circuit connections of thecontrol elements of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a timing chart of certain elements of the machine.

Before describing the operation of the machine, the control records willbe first described followed by a description of the different controlunits of the machine.

Control records Referring now to Fig. 1 a preferred type of controlrecord is shown to comprise a record card 20 which is similar to thewell known type of record cards adapted for use in the Hollerithstatistical system. The record card may comprise a sheet of suitablenon-magnetic material, such as paper, which is impregnated with granularmagnetic material such as iron filings; or, if preferred the record cardcan be made by depositing finely divided metal powder in the paper pulpso as to be incorporated therein before the manufacture of themagnetiza-ble paper stock. Another type of record card which can be usedis one which comprises a multi-ply card having a wafer or foil ofmagnetic material formed between two layers or plies of suitable paperstock. This type of record is fully described and claimed in aco-pending application Serial No. 145,031, led May 27, 1937.

The record card shown in the instant application is a three zone recordso that the data designations can -be formed in any of the zonesdesired. The individual zones are indicated in Fig. 1. Each zone issub-divided into individual fields or columns which are designated bythe' reference characters a, b, c, etc. It is noted that the said fieldsor columns extend vertically across the entire zone. During recordingoperations the magnetic fields are directed to the desired fields tosubject these portions of the zones to the varying lines of forceinitiated by the recording magnets. The different magnetic impressionsor recordings formed on the records are then retained in the particularfields designated in Fig. 1. In order to represent different data therecordings are formed in different frequenies, for example, for thenumerical data 1 to 9 the recordings in the individual fields are formedin individual frequencies fI to f3 to extend vertically across the zoneto represent the different numerical values. The different datadesignations are indicated generally in the figure by therepresentations fI to fIU which allude to the frequencies of therecordings or impressions formed in the related columns. The numberrepresented in zone I by the magnetic recordings indicated is 39521, inzone 2 the number represented in 67890, and in zone 3 the numberrepresented is 12345, thus it is seen that a record card is providedwith three individual records or groups of recordings.

Record feeding and recordm'g means Referring now to Fig. 2 the cardfeeding means shown is similarv to well known types of card feedingmechanisms. For this reason the abbreviated disclosure and descriptionis believed sufficient. For detailed structural disclosure reference maybe made to U. S. Patents No. 1,741,985 and No. 1,741,992. The cards 23,disposed in the magazine 2 I, are fed singly from the stack by the cardpicker 2Ia to be advanced successively to suitably disposed pairs offeed rolls 22, 23, and 24 respectively and thence to the dischargehopper 25. The card picker is actuated by the reciprocating arm 26 whichis positioned by the disk 2l (secured to shaft 28) by means of theconnecting link 29, one end of which is eccentrically mounted on thedisk. The shaft 28 is driven by the main shaft 30 by 4means of wormgearing secured to both the said shafts and indicated generally by thereference character 3I. The said pairs of feed rolls 22, 23 and 24 arealso rotated by the main shaft 30 by means of the individual worm gears32 secured to theindividual feed rolls and individual worm drives 32secured to shaft 30. In this manner the cards are advanced from themagazine past the wipe-out magnet 34 and recording magnets 35 at aconstant rate of speed. It is seen as the cards are fed from themagazine to the feed rolls they first pass under the wipe-out magnet 34(which is sufficient in length to extend along the full length of thecard). The said wipe-out magnet is provided for the purpose ofconditioning the card for recording and for erasing or neutralizing anyprevious recording on the record cards. As the cards are advanced theyare fed past the recording station whereat the recording magnets 35 aredisposed, one magnet for each columnar position to be recorded. Itshould be noted that just before the cards pass under the recordingmagnets they are effective to actuate the card lever 35 and cause thecontacts 31 to be closed.

Means for driving the main shaft 30 is shown in the form of the drivebelt 38 and pulley 33 adapted to be driven by the motor 43 (Fig. 6).Electromagnetically controlled clutch means are provided to control thedriving of the main shaft and comprise a well known type having a clutchdrive disk 45 (see Fig. 3) which is secured to the drive pulley 3l. Apawl member 4I pivotally mounted on the drive plate 42 (which plate issecured to shaft 30) is held out of engagement with the disk 40 by meansof the latch lever 43 which is shown as an integral part of the armatureof control magnet 44. Upon energizetion of the said magnet the latchlever is displaced to release the pawl and drive plate thus permittingthe pawl and drive disk to be engaged and rotated by the drive pulleythereby rotating the main shaft to which the drive plate is secured.Contacts 45 are arranged and suitably disposed o that they are closed bythe pawl member 4I when in the position shown in Fig. 3, and opened whenthe pawl and drive disk are engaged.

It should be stated that a group of cam controlled contacts CCI to OC3are provided (see Fig. 6) one of which isshown suitably positioned sothat the operation thereof is controlled by the associated cam 45 whichis secured to shaft 41 and rotated by shaft 28 by means of the gearinggenerally designated 48.

Keyboard section Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 the keyboard sectionwhich is a well known type and illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 2,147,626will be described briefly. The keyboard is of the' typical 81 key typehaving nine keys in each denominational order. lThe keyboard need not belimited to nine orders of keys but is provided with as many orders asthere are columnar positions on the record cards. Provision is made (asis usual in the B1 key type) whereby upon depression of the individualkeys 5l against the action of the associated springs 5I they are heldlatched in the depressed positions by the related latch bars 52 (ofwhich one for each order of keys is provided). In addition thereto anindividual control or zero bar 53 is provided for each order of keys sothat upon depression of any key in the selected denominational order therelated bar 53 is cammed to the right as viewed in Fig. 4 by suitablecamming edges provided on the key Shanks to open the associated contacts54. For each zero bar an auxiliary positionable control lever 55 isprovided for the purpose of opening the related zero contacts 54 in theorder or column desired, the reason of which will be understood as thedescription progresses. Each keybar is provided with a V-shapedconducting portion 56 adapted to engage, upon depression of theassociated key, the related contact 51.

The recording operations of the machine are initiated by the manualoperation of a motor bar 58, the depression of which causes the contacts58 to be closed. By means of a latch lever 63a the depressed bar ismaintained so, due to the engagement of the stem Bla of the bar with thesaid latch lever, Upon completion of the recording cycle means areprovided, such as solenoid 52, to be energized to restore the motor barto its normal position. It is seen that energization of the solenoidcauses pivoted latch member Sla to be partially rotated in a clockwisedirection upon displacement of the solenoid plunger by means of the link83 thereby releasing the latched stem ila of the motor bar.

During the said rotation of latch member 53a and after the release ofthe motor bar the link i4 causes lever 85a to be partially rotated andin turn to rotate the shaft a in a counterclockwise direction. Rotationof shaft 55a effects displacement of the arm 61 (secured to said shaft)and transverse bail 68, which bail, upon being rocked, thrusts the latchbars 52 forwardly (to the left as viewed in Fig. 4) releasing anydepressed keys which have been latched down. Also during the lattermovement of latch member 60 the associated contacts 69 are closed forpurposes to be described presently.

Operation of the machine Referring now to Fig. 6, two groups of keys 50are shown to represent two orders or columns of the keyboard section. Itis obvious that as many additional orders or columns of keys may beconnected to the frequency generators 60, amplifier units 6i, andrecording magnets 35 as desired in the manner shown. It is not deemednecessary to repeat the circuit connections of such additional orders.50 for each digit of each order are connected in multiple and joined bycommon conductors 65 to the anode circuits of the correspondingfrequency generators 60. The contact portions 51 of the keys of eachorder or column are connected to a common conductor 66 which isconnected to the grid circuit of the corresponding amplifier unit 6I.The grid circuit of each amplifier unit is connected to the outputcircuits of all the frequency generators 60 so that upon operation ofany one key in each order or column the related amplifier unit 6| iscoupled to the related frequency generator. A frequency generator 60 isprovided for each digit from zero to nine, for example, the frequencygenerator 60 having an output frequency of fi may represent the digit 1,

frequency generator ,f2 represents digit 2, etc. The generators 60 shownare of a well known electronic type but obviously can be any othersuitable type of generator such as the Well known rotary frequencygenerator type. Since the generators per se are not claimed as thesubject matter of the present invention further description thereof isdeemed unnecessary. It is understood now that upon closure of the ninekey in column one, the contacts 56, 51 thereof connect the generator 19to the amplier 6I having the recording magnet for column I of thedifferent zones of the record card connected in its output circuitthereby impressing the oscillations of frequency f9 upon the amplifierunit 6| and recording mag- Anet 35, which magnet is effective to producea magnetic recording upon column l of the selected zone of the recordcard as it passes the said magnet.

Now assume that the magnetizable cards are properly positioned in themagazine, that the levers 55 (Fig. 4) are positioned so that the zerocontacts 54 for the desired columns are open, and that the switches SIare closed to complete a circuit from conductor 10 to normally closedcontacts 45 (see Fig. 3), contacts Rza and the key release solenoid 62to conductor 1l, energizing said solenoid. Energization of the solenoidtends to release the depressed keys, but at this movement no keys of thekeyboard section have been held depressed, and effects closure of theassociated contacts 69. Closure of the said contacts connects relay R2across the power supply con ductors to energize this relay and causecontacts RZa to be opened and contactsR-2b to be closed. Opening ofcontacts RZa causes solenoid 62 to be deenergized. Closure of contactsR2b establishes a holding circuit for the said relay through contactsCCZ and B2b until the former are opened. It is to be noted that thewipe-out mag- The conducting portions 56 of the keys net 34 is'connected across the power supply and constantly energized so that eachzone of the card is properly conditioned as it passes the said magnetduring its travel to the recording magnets.

It should be mentioned that in the event recording of data in certaincolumns is not desired, for such columns levers 55 of the keyboardsection are positioned so as to maintain the associated zero contacts 54open. It is understood from the description hereinabove for thosecolumns in which the levers 55 are retained in a position so that thecontacts 54 are normally closed, whenever the keys of the said columnsare depressed, the related zero contacts are opened automatically. Dueto this provision, whenever the keys of the said columns are notdepressed, zeros are recorded automatically.

The machine is now conditioned for card feeding operations. Since thecards are shown to comprise three distinct zones, the machine isarranged so that card feeding operations are effected to advance thecards a distance equivalent to four card zones each card feed cyclebecause the spacing between the cards fed to the machine is equivalentto one card zone. A card feed cycle in the instant application refers toa complete cycle of operation of the card picker mechanism, or can bestated to represent one revolution of the gear 3l and shaft 28. Thegearing of the machine is arranged so that the driving clutch mechanism(see Fig. 3) can be latched at four points during the card feed cycle,namely at the 90, 180, 270 and 360 points of the said cycle.

Now, in order to feed the iirst zone of the first card up to therecording position it is necessary to depress the motor bar 58 which isthe start key in the present case thereby closing the contacts 59. It isremembered upon depression of any of the keys 50 or motor bar 58 theyare held depressed until the release solenoid 62 is energized. A circuitis then completed from conductor 10 to contacts 59, Bla and clutchmagnet 44 to conductor 1|, energizing said magnet. The main shaft 30 isnow driven to cause a card to be fed'to the machine. As the card isadvanced by the feed rollers to the recording position it passes underthe Wipeout magnet 34 to be conditioned for recording purposes, and uponfurther advancement thereof causes the card lever contact 31 to beclosed which occurs at approximate ly the 315 point of the cycle (seeFig. 7). Contacts CCI close at this time in the cycle (as well as the 45and 135 points) thereby completing a circuit from conductor 10 tocontacts CCI, 31 and relay RI to conductor 1i, energizing said relaycausing contacts Ria to be opened and contacts Rlb to be closed. Closureof the latter establishes a brief holding circuit for the relay by meansof the contacts 59 and Rlb until the release solenoid is energized.Opening of contacts Ria effects deenergization of the control magnet 44thereby causing the main drive shaft to be latched up at the 360 pointof the cycle. A card is now fed so that the first zone thereof is justready to be advanced under the recording magnets. When the clutchmechanism is latched the contacts 45 are closed to cause the key releasesolenoid to be energized releasing the motor bar and causing contacts 69to be closed to energize relay R2 for the purpose described hereinabove.

The machine is now conditioned for recording during the next cycle ofoperation. The data to be recorded in the different columnar positionson the card is now set up on the corresponding keys 50 so as to couplethe corresponding frequency generators to the proper columnar recordingmagnets. The recordings are impressed upon the entire columnar area ofeach zone since the generators are coupled to the amplifiers and magnetsall during the zone feeding cycle due to the latched keys 50. Aftersetting up the data to be recorded cn the keyboard section the start key58 is depressed to close its contacts 5l to start the card feedingoperations as described. As the card passes under the recording magnetsthe statistical data is recorded in the various columns in differentfrequencies to correspond to the frequencies of the generators coupledto the amplifiers and recording magnets. At the 45 point of the cardfeed cycle contacts CCI close to energize relay RI and effectdeenergization of the clutch magnet M thus causing the mechanism tolatch up and stop at the 90 point of the cycle. 'I'he describedoperations are repeated for recording in the second and third zones ofthe card, the card feeding means being latched up at the 180 point ofthe cycle after recording in the second zone. Depression of the startkey initiates the card feeding operations for recording in the thirdzone of the card, but it is to be noted that during this recordingoperation contacts CCI are not closed to energize the relay RI andeffect deenergization of the clutch magnet for interrupting the cardfeed operations. Thus the card feed mechanism is not latched up at the270 point of the cycle but instead continues to feed the following cardso that its first zone is fed up to the recording position when themechanism is stopped and latched at the 360 point of the cycle. In thismanner the machine is conditioned each cycle to feed the different zonesof the record cards past the recording magnets thereby effectingrecording of the selected data set up on the keyboard section.

Provision is made for last card operations by means of cam contacts CO3.Upon the feeding of the last card through the machine contacts 3l areopened at about the 270 point in the cycle to prevent energization ofthe relay RI upon closure of the CCI contacts. However, contacts CC! areclosed at the 315 'point to effect energization of relay RI, thuscausing the magnet M to be deenergized and causing the machine to belatched up at the 360 point as described hereinabove.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, itwill be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changesin the form and detalls of the device illustrated and in its operationmay be madefby those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the character described for recording statistical data indifferent columns upon a sheet comprising a plurality of recordingmagnets, one for each column of data to be recorded, a plurality ofalternating current sources of different frequencies, the frequencies ofwhich being different for the diiferent data to be recorded, means forselecting different alternating current sources for representing thedifferent data and different recording magnets for effecting therecording of the selected data, means for maintaining the said selectionand impressing the said alternating current sources selected upon theselected recording magnets, and means for presenting a magnetizablesheet to said recording magnets to receive magnetic recordings, indifferent columns thereon, in accordance with the selected frequenciesof the alternating current sources impressed upon the recording magnets.

2'. A device of the character described for recording statistical datain different columns upon a sheet comprising a plurality of recordingmagnets, one for each column of data to be recorded, a plurality ofalternating current sources of different frequencies, the frequencies ofwhich being different for the different data to be recorded, a pluralityof columns of operable keys, corresponding to the data to be recorded,there being one column of keys for each column of data to be recorded,means controlled upon depression of the selected keys for couplingselectively the alternating current sources of different frequencies tothe recording magnets in accordance with the data selected to berecorded in predetermined columns on the record, means for maintainingthe said selected coupling of the alternating current sources andrecording magnets, and means for presenting a magnetizable sheet to thesaid selected recording magnets to be influenced thereby wherebymagnetic recordings are formed in predetermined columns on the recordfor representing the selected data in accordance with the differentfrequencies of the alternating current sources impressed on therecording magnets.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein means are provided forrestoring the said selected alternating current sources and recordingmagnets to an uncoupled condition after effecting recording of the dataupon the said sheet.

4. A device of the character described for recording statistical data indifferent columns upon individual sheets at a recording station,comprising means for feeding magnetizable sheets past the recordingstation, a plurality of recording magnets disposed at the recordingstation, one magnet for each column of data to be recorded, a pluralityof sources of oscillations of different frequencies, and means forcoupling selectively the oscillation sources to the said magnets forinfluencing the'n in accordance with the frequencies of the selectedsources thereby forming magnetic recordingsln accordance therewith inthe columns upon the sheets fed past the recording station.

5. A device of the character described for recording statistical data indifferent columns upon individual sheets at a recording stationcomprising means for feeding individual sheets past the recordingstation, individual recording means at the said station, one recordingmeans for each column of data to be recorded, a plurality of sources ofoscillations of different frequencies, and means for couplingselectively the said oscillation sources to the individual recordingmeans for influencing the recording means in accordance with thefrequencies of the oscillations impressed thereon thereby fcrmingindividual recordings thereon in different columns and in differentfrequency values corresponding to the frequencies of the said sourcesinfluencing the recording means.

JAMES W. BRYCE.

